How Many People Are Named Bernard?
Complete statistics for the name Bernard: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Bernard means 'brave as a bear' and has a timeless charm. It's rare, with just 1 in 4,549 Americans named Bernard, totaling 72,548 people today. The majority, 85%, are over 60, making it a classic, old-school name.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, the life-path number 8 represents power, authority, and success.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 85All 200,791 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1924Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Bernard Through the Generations
Bernard peaked in popularity in 1924 when 4,524 babies were given this name. Today, there are 72,548 people named Bernard living in the United States. The age distribution shows a significant skew towards older generations, with 170,711 individuals over 60 years old, compared to only 5,446 under 30. This trend reflects the name's status as a traditional choice, passed down through generations.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Bernard
Bernard (Bernhard) is a French and West Germanic masculine given name. It has West Germanic origin and is also a surname.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Bernard's Germanic roots
📄 About the Name Bernard
How Many People Have the Name Bernard?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 37,873 people in the United States currently share the name Bernard. That works out to roughly 1 in every 8,752 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Bernard a Common or Rare Name?
Bernard is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Bernard Mean?
Bernard means "brave as a bear" and comes from Germanic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Bernard in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Bernard Most Popular?
The name Bernard reached peak popularity in 1924, with 4,524 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Bernard?
Approximately 37,873 people named Bernard live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 37,873. That works out to roughly 1 in 8,752 Americans.
Is Bernard a rare name?
Bernard is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 8,752 Americans has this name.
What does the name Bernard mean?
Bernard means "brave as a bear" and comes from Germanic origins.
Is Bernard more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Bernard are male and 1% are female.
When was Bernard most popular?
Bernard peaked in 1924 with 4,524 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.